Accommodating lens assembly

Abstract

An accommodating lens assembly having an optical axis and being adapted to be implanted in a posterior chamber of an eye having a capsular unit located therein. The assembly includes a rigid haptics element adapted to secure the assembly within the posterior chamber outside said capsular unit. The element is transparent at least in a region around the axis. The assembly further includes a resilient body adapted to operate as a lens having a curved surface when pressed up against the region of the haptics element by an axial force applied thereto by the capsular unit. A change in this force causes a change in a radius of curvature for the curved surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to intraocular lenses, and in particular, to accommodating intraocular lenses capable of focusing on objects located at various distances therefrom.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The natural lens of a human eye is a transparent crystalline body, which is contained within a capsular bag located behind the iris and in front of the vitreous cavity in a region known as the posterior chamber. The capsular bag is attached on all sides by fibers, called zonules, to a muscular ciliary body. At its rear, the vitreous cavity, which is filled with a gel, further includes the retina, on which light rays passing through the lens are focused. Contraction and relaxation of the ciliary bodies changes the shape of the bag and of the natural lens therein, thereby enabling the eye to focus light rays on the retina originating from objects at various distances.[0003]Cataracts occur when the natural lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent me...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]The advantages provided by the accommodating lens assembly of the present invention abound, particularly because of it is designed to be positioned in the eye completely outside of the posterior capsule. One advantage, for example, is that the lens assembly does not undesirably stretch and consequently harm the capsule. Also, the lens assembly does not need to conform to the size or shape of the capsule, and is therefore free to take on a larger variety of designs. Furthermore, the capsule is sometimes damaged during the surgery to remove the natural lens, but the lens assembly of the present invention does not require that the capsule be completely intact in the form of a bag but merely that it remain reliably connected as part of the capsular unit. Another advantage arising from the lens assembly being positioned outside of the posterior capsule is that it remains unaffected by the permanent and unpredictable constriction that the capsule inevitably undergoes due to scarring following the surgery for removal of the natural lens.

[0022]In addition to the above, the lens assembly of the present invention offers advantages such as a simple and inexpensive construction. The lens assembly of the present invention also provides the ability to accommodate within a vast range of refractive power, including the full range provided by the natural eye. Also, the lens assembly provides means for varying its sensitivity in response to the force applied by the capsular unit.

Problems solved by technology

Cataracts occur when the natural lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent membrane becomes clouded and obstructs the passage of light resulting in various degrees of blindness.

Such lenses, however, have the drawback that they have a fixed refractive power and are therefore unable to change their focus.

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